I bought the D50 and it came with the 28-80 in the lens kit. The zoom as you can guess doesn't reach out as far as I would like. I plan to use the camera for normal family pictures, Vacation pictures and maybe some nice landscape shots. Since I also carry a Mini DV camcorder I don't want to carry a bag full of lens. So I would like one do all.

I ran across a guy that wants to sell his 28-200 F3.5-5.6 G AF ED IF lens for a firm price of $240 so that he can upgrade to a new VR len.

I am new to DSLRs having moved from my Sony DSCS70 digital camera. Which is really a point and shoot camera compared to the D59.

I wish I could afford the $1000+ lens but I have other expensive hobbies that I need to feed as well.

Is that a good price and a good zoom range for me?

RedBaron

01-06-2006, 09:18 PM

Either in Houston or on the Internet? I do travel for work to Austin or San Antonio.

Anybody live in Houston? I would like to meet up somewhere and "try" a few shots with some of the your expensive lens to see what I am missing. Who knows, I might have to put some of the other hobbies on hold and buy better lens. Its so hard to know what kind of pictures you can take with a $1000 lens vs. a $300 lens. I am sure the picture will be better but it would help to see a side by side comparison shooting the same subject.

Thanks,
Richard

coldrain

01-07-2006, 02:35 AM

You say you like landscape photos. The lens you got does not go very wide (42mm), so maybe you should consider the D50 kit lens (18-55mm) to get down to 27mm, and a 70-300 APO DG from sigma to extend your tele range?

Or an all in one like the 18-200 from Sigma. Or the 70-210 from Nikon.

Payne

01-07-2006, 10:54 AM

the nikon 28-200G is a very good lens, highly recommendable - I had one but I sold it last week since I've already ordered the new 18-200VR (this lens has been teste against the 18-70Dx and also the 28-200G - see Dpreview forums - and its performance matchs the 28-200G at all focal lenghts and outperforms the 18-70Dx) so I guess it's also a good lens.

I own a D50, this camera as you should know, has an in-camera sharpening higher than any other Nikon model - actually I even get sharp images with the 70-300ED at long end :)

I suggest going with the 18-200VR or maybe for the 28-200G (quite inexpensive) + sigma 18-50 f2.8 (fast lens) -

coldrain

01-07-2006, 11:25 AM

the nikon 28-200G is a very good lens, highly recommendable - I had one but I sold it last week since I've already ordered the new 18-200VR (this lens has been teste against the 18-70Dx and also the 28-200G - see Dpreview forums - and its performance matchs the 28-200G at all focal lenghts and outperforms the 18-70Dx) so I guess it's also a good lens.

I own a D50, this camera as you should know, has an in-camera sharpening higher than any other Nikon model - actually I even get sharp images with the 70-300ED at long end :)

I suggest going with the 18-200VR or maybe for the 28-200G (quite inexpensive) + sigma 18-50 f2.8 (fast lens) -
in-camera sharpening of the D70(s) actually is higher than that of the D50 :rolleyes:

That is why the resulting resolution from the D70(s) is higher than that of the D50.

Payne

01-07-2006, 11:30 AM

in-camera sharpening of the D70(s) actually is higher than that of the D50 :rolleyes:

both are quite similar. but the in-camera sharpening of the D50 is higher than the Nikon D2H, D100, D2X and D200.

However, my own test, showed me sharper images on D50 over the D70(s), also Jeff K. found the D50 sharper than any other DSRL ever made. :)

D70FAN

01-07-2006, 04:46 PM

both are quite similar. but the in-camera sharpening of the D50 is higher than the Nikon D2H, D100, D2X and D200.

However, my own test, showed me sharper images on D50 over the D70(s), also Jeff K. found the D50 sharper than any other DSRL ever made. :)

Did you check the settings before taking those test shots? And did both cameras have the same lens?

Could you do me a favor and point to Jeffs statement. I sure don't remember that one.;)

coldrain

01-07-2006, 05:06 PM

All tests show higher resolution for the D70. So high, that it evcen rivals the 20D in standard settings. No idea why you think the D50 applies more sharpening.

Payne

01-07-2006, 08:51 PM

Did you check the settings before taking those test shots? And did both cameras have the same lens?

Could you do me a favor and point to Jeffs statement. I sure don't remember that one.;)

some people, when somebody talks on their beloved camera or lenses, feel attacked by no reason.

Jeff K. "Finally, images were a bit sharper than on most D-SLRs"

This statement also has been supported by several images posted so far by many users who had had the chance to try both cameras (like me) :)

Payne

01-07-2006, 08:58 PM

All tests show higher resolution for the D70. So high, that it evcen rivals the 20D in standard settings. No idea why you think the D50 applies more sharpening.

You can see two things from these figures, the D70 has very unusually high resulting resolution for a 6mp camera, and the D50 is considerably lower.
It also shows what the cameras do with in-camera processing. The Nikon D70 applies some agressive processing to lift contrast/sharpness, gaining unusually high resolution for a 6mp DSLR. This does result in quite a high tendency for moire artifacts and sharpening artifacts.
The D70s is a little better in this respect. The D50 has the least tendency for moire of the 3, and that is thanks to its less aggressive processing.

For normal resolution figures of that Sony 6mp CCD look at the figures for the KM 7D and Pentax. It is normal for DSLR's to not sharpen a lot, to keep the photos artifact free for post processing. That Nikon does not follow that with the D70(s) and gets almost the same results as from the 8mp models is nice for straight out of the camera impact, but has its share of drawbacks. What you prefer and choose is a personal matter.

And you typed "in camera sharpening of the D50 is higher" which just is not true. That is why it is showing less artifacts (moire, strange patterns, and sharpening artifacts).

K1W1

01-08-2006, 02:53 AM

I know I don't speak the American version of English and most of this technical stuff is way above me but can somebody please explain.

How does, "Finally, images were a bit sharper than on most D-SLRs" become interpreted as, "also Jeff K. found the D50 sharper than any other DSRL ever made"?

Payne

01-08-2006, 05:59 AM

Coldbrain.

your outcome is almost the same as what I got when I compared both cameras - I guess, people have to try both cameras and do a side by side shoot out to draw a conclusion - to me, it's clear, either the D70s or D50 have an excellent image quality, but also to my eyes the D50 is a bit sharper, period. Dont know why we waste time in discussing silly matters.

coldrain

01-08-2006, 07:30 AM

Coldbrain.

your outcome is almost the same as what I got when I compared both cameras - I guess, people have to try both cameras and do a side by side shoot out to draw a conclusion - to me, it's clear, either the D70s or D50 have an excellent image quality, but also to my eyes the D50 is a bit sharper, period. Dont know why we waste time in discussing silly matters.
Oh yay, now you go even are into making fun of nicks. *more sigh*

You were the one bringing up this "x is the most sharp" nonsense in the first place.
And I do not find a 13% plus in resulting resolution for the D70 compared to the D50 "almost the same".

When you have access to a D70 and a good prime in a controlled environment, you will yourself be able to count lines and decypher fine details and see a difference. Till then do not trust your eyes too much, maybe.